168glhs1986

The transmission is certainly not a downgrade lol

Adrift

Really? A poll to decide? lol

rava981

From someone who upgraded from a 981 base to a gt4rs I can say that GT4RS is on another level, its another type of machine, another gearbox and wouldn't buy it with a manual. However, I would like to add another 981 base manual to my garage.

GrantG

Since you seem to really enjoy a good manual gearbox, I voted for the "Wait for GT3 Manual". The GT3/4RS motor combined with the 6spd Manual is a real treat. And since we're probably talking about 992.2 GT3, I expect this to have some significant improvements over 992.1 (Touring will get closer to 911 S/T and Winged car will get closer to GT3 RS - choose your flavor).

Alternatively, you could trade for the GT4 RS now and get in line to trade that towards the 992.2 GT3 should that one interest you later.

smegman

the GT4RS is such a massive upgrade, transmission is awesome in it, its absolutely the right move especially if you can get it for msrp

cooler2442

I had a 981 GT4 and 718 Spyder prior to the GT4RS. They aren't even in the same league when you compare overall fun/driving experience to the 4RS. I have 0 regret selling both of those and getting a 4RS.

ZaGT4

Go GT4RS if you:
-Want to be faster at the track.
-Like to go two times the speedlimit
-Drive on good roads
-Want something insane
-Want to have to be alert when driving hard, esp. in the wet, even with all the nannys on...
-Don't mind much higher cost, both buying and running


Don't go GT4RS if you
-Love small B-roads, but don't drive like a maniac
-Don't track
-Drive with a passenger who doesn't want you to push to the cars limit
-Love the pure flat 6 exhaust sound
-Pay over MSRP
-Can't loose money on depreciation on the RS (I think things will change in the market)

BUT don't underestimate the PDK. Don't let the manual vs. PDK let you decide, especially if you haven't tried it with the 500hp GT3 engine!! I'ts just as insane as the engine and car, and suits it perfectly.

I am coming from a 981 GT4 to the 4RS. It is almost too much and fast for the road, the speeds you reach with 9k are just outrageous. It is the shortest PDK made, but you still have to work and drive like you stole it, to get up in the revs, often downshifting 3-4 gears! Insane! And fun!!
But one day in some years, I'm pretty sure I will get a GT4 or Spyder again. Just a perfect balanced sportscar which is easy to live with, easy to go on long trips, very fun on B-roads, easy to hammer, and still very capable for some trackdays. What makes it so good is the combination of handling, sound, just enogh power, brakes, looks, comfort and manual. In that order....

MOGI

GT4 RS without a doubt for me. While having a manual is rewarding, the GT3 engine pairs much better with a PDK. You feel like you get more out of the engine and ironically, shift more often. The fun of having that engine is the ability to play it like an instrument; listening to the howl, the crack you get on downshifts, etc. It’s an experience you can’t have with a GT4 and much more exhilarating.

The GT4 RS is a once in a life time car. It's a mid engine GT3 with RS bits, I am willing to bet it will always be in more demand than a GT4, despite it not having a manual option. Even if there was a mark up on it, I would take it.

and know this… if you ever wanted to get back into a manual GT4 from a 4RS, you could very easily do it.

AAK GTS

If your current GT4 is your first Porsche then I would not expect an allocation for a 992.2 GT3 at MSRP. GT3s have a crazy ADM.

Ksdaoski

I'll go a bit further and may offend a couple people. I found GT4s to be to lethargic. Coupled with the gearing, I found I was never actually shifting that often. You can pretty much sit in second with the occasional flick into third, during back road drives. So you actually didn't get a fantastic manual experience. And because of that gearing you never seem to really be in the sweet spot of the engine if there is a sweet spot in that engine. So when I was originally shopping GT4s it was a hard pass and I went with a 991.2 manual that I found a lot more engaging. The GT4 RS engine coupled with the extreme short gearing makes for a lively experience. A memorable experience. Whether on track or doing a quick run to the Home Depot, it's been hands down such a better experience than the anemic GT4.

Ksdaoski

I'll go a bit further and may offend a couple people. I found GT4s to be too lethargic. Coupled with the gearing, I found I was never actually shifting that often. You can pretty much sit in second with the occasional flick into third, during back road drives. So you actually didn't get a fantastic manual experience. And because of that gearing you never seem to really be in the sweet spot of the engine if there is a sweet spot in that engine. So when I was originally shopping GT4s it was a hard pass and I went with a 991.2 manual that I found a lot more engaging. The GT4 RS engine coupled with the extreme short gearing makes for a lively experience. A memorable experience. Whether on track or doing a quick run to the Home Depot, it's been hands down such a better experience than the anemic GT4.

TheBucketOfTruth

We can't tell you how important a manual is to you or not. I had fun in trying a GT4 RS but immediately missed the manual gearbox. That said, a stock GT4 does not feel very powerful with the stock specs and gearing. If you can get a GT4 RS for MSRP it's sort of a no brainer because if you don't like it you can just move to a GT3 at some point after and not be behind almost any money. There's always DeMan 4.5 if you really want your manual GT4 but want a lot more power (and you are in NY). If you are trying to stay mostly stock then a GT3 is the only thing that will give you that motor with a manual gearbox.

MOGI

You know, I agree with you that a stock GT4 feels slower and yet when you look at the Dyno numbers (as below) the 718 GT4 puts down about the same HP as a 991.1 GT3... and yet IMO, the GT3 feels MUCH faster

dnimi123

Um... its the SAME CAR with a more powerful engine (and shorter gears). So not sure Im with you on 'arent even in the same league'. Its an evolution not revolution. Like a Turbo to a Turbo S nothing more.

Mike981S

Of course, the 718 GT4RS is an evolution compared to the 981 GT4, but so it is also an evolution of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen - Wikipedia. It is definitely a bigger evolutionary step to go from a manual transmission car with a 991.1 Carrera S engine to a shorter geared PDK-S with a 992.1 GT3 engine than going from the same generation Turbo to Turbo S.

Having a 981 GT4, having driven a 991.2 GT3RS, there is a big difference in the power train experience. I expect the GT4RS to be as different as the 991.2 GT3RS compared to the 981 GT4 in many aspects such as the aural experience, the additional 110 bhp, the additional 1200 rpm, shorter gearing and way more aero (I expect a similar interior, the mid-engined handling and the jumpy back under hard breaking on track).